Good Question: How To Clean My Electric Stove?

Dear Kitchen Readers,

I renovated my kitchen eighteen months ago. While the rest of my kitchen is still almost as clean as when it was installed, the top of my Kenmore Elite electric stove from Sears has become a dirt magnet.

It is difficult and time consuming to clean and is starting to show some scratches. Spring Cleaning Month seems like a good time to get some help with this: how can I keep the glass-ceramic top of my stove clean?

Thanks,
Chris from AT:Kitchen

Please post your suggestions in the comment section. If you have a similar stove with a similar problem, let us know that too.

So far I've tried special cleaners, sponges, and even the magic eraser.

My apartment building does not have a gas hook-up, so switching to a gas stove is not an option for me. Besides, we try to stick-up for electric stoves around here. Huge, high-end gas stoves might look great on TV, but they aren't a requirement for cooking well at home.

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Comments (11)

I have a glass ceramic top (gas) stove and it also requires immediate cleaning after every use. If you drip, spill or burn something on it and don't wipe it up before cooking again, it's harder to remove. I use a damp sponge to wipe up anything immediately and on harder to get at gunk, I use Cerama Bryte that came with my stove and one of those coarse scrubbies.They are just slightly abrasive but they don't scratch the surface. Here's the link: http://www.ceramabryte.com/productListing.asp?SID=90D5452F4F2442B6A8462D65961F0D72&CategoryID=35

I've also applied it to a toothbrush and used it around the tough to get at corners. Lately, and I know this is so not PC or green, but I wipe down the surface with those clorox wipes -- and my stove top has never looked better.

I lived with one of these for a year, and what I discovered was good old fashioned scouring with sand. Yes, sand. I would sprinkle some on, scour with a damp sponge and wipe off. I never had problems with scratching the glass.

Baking soda? That's what I use to clean my enamel pots and enamel is similar to glass.

I just put a heap of the baking soda on the offending area and scrub with a damp cloth.

Soft Scrub or Weiman's Cooktop Polish?

I have a GE model that looks just like this one and Soft Scrub works like a charm on the stove top.

I've never tried a cleaner with grit like Soft Scrub. It says not to do that in the mannual, but at this point, maybe I should give it a try? I could try it in a small less noticable area first.

I don't use the Soft Scrub all the time, only as a "spot cleaner" for those areas with the baked-on crud that seems impervious to all the mild-and-water-and-elbow-grease methods. I'll squirt a little SS on the spot, let it sit for about 1/2 minute then scrub-up the spot with a regular sponge. So far it's worked great and I haven't noticed any scratching of the surface.

I've had my ceramic Whirlpool (they make the Kenmore brand) glasstop for at least 12 years and it still looks (and works!) like new. The glass has never been scratched or looked as dismal as your picture. I think you got a lemon and should contact the company!

We use Softscrub occasionally but when push comes to shove (a burned-on bit or blackened area) I use a straight razor gently to remove anything that can't be removed any other way (hold it at a very oblique angle). It has never scratched the glass nor left any mark on the surface.

But I really think that the company owes you a new cooktop surface!

I have the same cooktop and love Barkeeper's Friend - you can get it at most grocery stores but they also have a web site. It's also great for making stainless steel pots look like new.

In a past house, we had one of those flattop electric stoves and just cleaned it with baking soda, vinegar and hot water. Wet the top, sprinkle enough baking soda to act as a mild abrasive, scrubbed, sprayed vinegar to help get up some tougher baked on grease, rinsed with plenty of hot water. For really tough baked on stuff, we applied baking soda, sprayed vinegar and let the fizzy bubbles do its thing. Went back after a bit and scrubbed, rinsed and voila. Good to go.

I'm always hesitant to use chemical cleansers around food prep even though they claim to be for kitchens. It makes me wonder if I've rinsed well enough. With baking soda and vinegar, there's no health issue if I missed a bit.